A group of about 50 protesters gathered on the steps of the Colorado capital yesterday afternoon to openly break the law. Yesterday new gun laws went into effect in the state including a magazine ban.

The new laws restrict any sale or transfer of magazines with a capacity greater than 15 rounds. Anyone who purchased their magazines prior to July 1 may keep their magazines, but they cannot sell, trade or give them away.

Protesters exchanged magazines in full view of the police, who observed the illegal transfer and sale of magazines with greater than 15-round capacities, but did not interfere. The act of civil disobedience went unpunished.

“Everyone was asked to pull out their magazines and start passing them the the left,” said one of the protesters. “With each pass of a magazine, we were breaking the law. We passed magazines for about a minute and when told to stop, we were informed that magazines we had in our hands now belonged to us. We broke the law about 15 times within a minute.”

Time will tell if any law enforcement officers intend to apply this law. At this protest, in front of journalists and reporters, it clearly seemed unnecessary or just bad press.

Violation of the law is a class 2 misdemeanor, which is punishable with a three- to 12-month jail sentence and up to $1,000 in fines.

The new gun laws are already causing some confusion. For example, a pawn shop in Longmont, Colorado, is unsure if they can legally return pawned guns with magazines with greater than 15-round capacities to their original owners.

“I could go to jail,” said Grandpa’s Pawn and Guns’ owner Rod Brandenburg to the Denver Channel. “If we violate them, knowingly, I could go to jail. I could have several financial penalties and I could have my rights to own a gun revoked for two years, which could put me out of business.”

Brandenburg contacted law enforcement including the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for guidance to no avail. “I’ve had no feedback; we’ve had no instruction. We don’t know where we sit right now, as far as the pawn aspect.”

Residents of Colorado are petitioning to directly overturn the magazine capacity limit.

Put It to the People wants voters, not legislators, to determine magazine capacity limits.

A group call Put It to the People is circulating a petition to add a ballot initiative that would take away legislators’ ability to regulate magazine capacities and repeal any limits already in place.

The ballot initiative would amend the Colorado constitution to specify that only the people can set magazine capacity limits and only by direct vote.

“No law, except a law enacted by a vote of the people, shall restrict or limit the right of the people to purchase or possess ammunition storage and feeding devices of any capacity,” reads the amendment.

According to the group’s website they’re ready to begin collecting signatures. “Our petitions have been approved and we printed a small early run to gather some signatures.”

“Professional printing is underway and the signature drive will start in earnest soon. We are calling for all volunteers to come forward now to make sure our petitions are in every gun shop and shooting range in Colorado.”

Grass-roots gun rights activists have had a good measure of success in the past few weeks. Recently enough registered voters petitioned successfully to kick off recall elections of Sen. Angela Giron (D-Pueblo) and Senate President John Morse (D-Colo. Springs), both of whom pushed for increased gun control against the will of their electorate.

That’s on top of a massive lawsuit brought on by gun and civil rights organizations against the state, which is backed by all but nine of the state’s sheriffs.

I'm not sure I understand correctly because the second amendment says congress shall not infringe on the right to bear arms, and that is a federal legislature. Does that prevent states and localities from doing it? I thought it was just the congress - the federal government legislative bodies. Anybody know the truth about this??

Not just the 2nd Amendment but the first as well. I am P.T. and I am a Colorado Anonymous.So I joined anon after seeing all the things going wrong and they were real eye openers from the federal reserve (http://youtu.be/mII9NZ8MMVM) to Monsanto poisoning and well is it surprising that Barrack Hussien Obama a muslim elected during a time when we were at war with a muslim nation does not have the U.S. citizens best interests at heart. But the Obama thing can be forgiven if it weren't for the congresses in ability to act in the best interests of the U.S. people. But have plenty of action in self interest. That's right your senators don't care about you just themselves period They backed Obama in gun control know Y Texas were one of their own an Arizona Senator was shot and nearly died they realized the worse things get the more likely their going to catch some of the heat, they realized that we wouldn't turn on each other first but them. So what now congress needs to ensure their safe and on top so what do they agree to ...gun control. Oh yes they try to doctor it up by saying it's just magazines and background checks but it's just a test how much can they get away with how many rights can they take away until no one can challenge them in words or the might of weapons. The patriot act, Drone act, and the crescendo the gun last line of defense against greed and tyranny. Start off small make it sound harmless and the threat of not agreeing horrendous. But people who realized in public and Military offices realized inanely and fought back. The republicans/ politicians realized this was an opportunity and sided with the NRA, "self interest" "stay elected" "stay rich and in power". But the Democrats who still support Obama and the senator who was shot still try to oppose the idea that we won't give up our guns and will go to any length to take your freedom and guns even your Right to "VOTE". You can see this going on right now in Colorado By state sen. John Morse of Colorado Springs and sen. Angela Giron of Pueblo. Freedom and rights groups called for their recall and petitioned in both cities but now the petitions are being challenged legally even though they have more then enough signers for the recall. Morse decided to say that the petitions wording is "UNCONSTITUTIONAL" and hired a lawyer Mark Grueskin to remove the petitions against him but Giron decided to put campaign funds into a service to challenge those who signed it in Pueblo to remove their signature. However, should it fail she will do the same thing Morse is. TAKING AWAY THE RIGHT TO A VOTE. An act of treason against the second and first Amendment. The first amendment and I quote is "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to assemble, and to "PETITION” the Government for a redress of GRIEVANCES".
Do You Think This Method of Petition removals is Constitutional? Do you believe your Government is up to something? Will U sit and do nothing? If U read this article to it's entirety and feel that it is factual and not lacking Sense. Then U have helped me affirm that this is Common Sense. Do not sit. STAND and say GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH. http://youtu.be/XGLwJGv1fAQ

For those of you who are interested, we are sponsoring a giveaway in this same spirit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6xQ0TV8gUU Please consider participating. This stuff only works when people stand up and take part.

Amen Man. I am P.T. and I am a Colorado Anonymous.So I joined anon after seeing all the things going wrong and they were real eye openers from the federal reserve (http://youtu.be/mII9NZ8MMVM) to Monsanto poisoning and well is it surprising that Barrack Hussien Obama a muslim elected during a time when we were at war with a muslim nation does not have the U.S. citizens best interests at heart. But the Obama thing can be forgiven if it weren't for the congresses in ability to act in the best interests of the U.S. people. But have plenty of action in self interest. That's right your senators don't care about you just themselves period They backed Obama in gun control know Y Texas were one of their own an Arizona Senator was shot and nearly died they realized the worse things get the more likely their going to catch some of the heat, they realized that we wouldn't turn on each other first but them. So what now congress needs to ensure their safe and on top so what do they agree to ...gun control. Oh yes they try to doctor it up by saying it's just magazines and background checks but it's just a test how much can they get away with how many rights can they take away until no one can challenge them in words or the might of weapons. The patriot act, Drone act, and the crescendo the gun last line of defense against greed and tyranny. Start off small make it sound harmless and the threat of not agreeing horrendous. But people who realized in public and Military offices realized inanely and fought back. The republicans/ politicians realized this was an opportunity and sided with the NRA, "self interest" "stay elected" "stay rich and in power". But the Democrats who still support Obama and the senator who was shot still try to oppose the idea that we won't give up our guns and will go to any length to take your freedom and guns even your Right to "VOTE". You can see this going on right now in Colorado By state sen. John Morse of Colorado Springs and sen. Angela Giron of Pueblo. Freedom and rights groups called for their recall and petitioned in both cities but now the petitions are being challenged legally even though they have more then enough signers for the recall. Morse decided to say that the petitions wording is "UNCONSTITUTIONAL" and hired a lawyer Mark Grueskin to remove the petitions against him but Giron decided to put campaign funds into a service to challenge those who signed it in Pueblo to remove their signature. However, should it fail she will do the same thing Morse is. TAKING AWAY THE RIGHT TO A VOTE. An act of treason against the second and first Amendment. The first amendment and I quote is "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to assemble, and to "PETITION” the Government for a redress of GRIEVANCES".
Do You Think This Method of Petition removals is Constitutional? Do you believe your Government is up to something? Will U sit and do nothing? If U read this article to it's entirety and feel that it is factual and not lacking Sense. Then U have helped me affirm that this is Common Sense. Do not sit. STAND and say GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH. http://youtu.be/XGLwJGv1fAQ

As far as the pawn shop goes, they are not your weapons - you are simply holding them for their owners. You are not selling them and the original transaction took place before the law was put into place. You better get you head out of your ass and return the property exactly how you received it or you will loose your pawn Lic. permanently for breaking a number of other law that you will be violating.

WOW...A Colorado Expert living in Nevada?? I think the owner of is dead on with wanting to verify the law before getting in trouble. Besides...it is not your license of loss or income that is in jeopardy! He has not said he will not return them...just wants to know the law. If that does not seem normal to you, you need help! In an interview...he stated he had tried to reach everyone and get them to get the Mags before the law went into effect and some did!

Below is what is says, I would be very concerned because continuous possession has not been maintained and now if the pawn shop transfers them back to the owner he has committed a crime.

A person may possess a large-capacity magazine if he or she owns the large-capacity magazine on the effective date of the bill and maintains continuous possession of the large-capacity magazine.
A person who sells, transfers, or possesses a large-capacity magazine in violation of the new provision commits a class 2 misdemeanor.

Jess Ryan has NO CLUE what s/he's talking about. Whoever has the guns in their possession legally as the laws went into affect are now the legal owners because of that magic word: possession (since we don't have a gun registration system, the only thing that determines ownership is possesion, another huge flaw in the laws). The pawn contracts still exist stating the guns need to be returned to their original owners BUT since a number of guns have now illegal hi-cap magazines, it would be illegal to transfer the magazines back to their original owners. These pawn transactions are in a grey area so pawn owners know that to avoid heat from the State or other LE they need to hold on to the magazines until the laws are repealed OR wait for CBI to clarify that they don't intend to prosecute the pawn shops for these kinds of transactionw. Pawn shop owners know that while holding "illegal" magazines could invite law suits from the magazines' owners, it's better to get sued by civilians than penalized by the gov for giving the illegal magazines back if doing so is illegal. Plus if they did get sued by illegal mag owners, that just brings the grey area issue into a court room where it'll get media and legislative attention in hopes of addressing the broader issue (the crappy new gun laws that need to get repealed). Pawn shops don't have their heads in their asses and they are NOT in danger of getting their licenses revoked simply because they aren't sure what to do due to crazy new laws that leave their hands tied. If an illegal mag owner sued a pawn shop for not giving the illegal magazine back, the LAST THING that would happen would be any sort of punishment for the pawn shop because really they're in the same boat as the citizen, stuck in the middle of crazy new laws and realities on the ground that the law is making way more complicated. State law makers have their heads in their asses, and every one else is getting stuck with all the inconvenience and injustice. That being said, smart citizens should have know not to pawn their magazines if they're going to be illegal to transfer in the future, even if you disagree with the new laws as most do.

Have a little more of a clue of what's going on before you condemn innoncent people of wrong-doing.

I know I go against all of you and will probably get a lot of hate comments, but let me ask you this seriously. What do you need an automatic gun that shoots more than 15 rounds? Can't go hunting with it, those are made to kill more than one. Is the real reason that you want these so badly is because you were told you can't? What you did by passing the magazines was like a rebellious child and I pray that you don't have young children watching this because what's the difference in what you did and getting high on cocaine or meth, it's all breaking the law. And you should talk to the parent of a loved one that was killed by these types of guns. Maybe they can explain it to you better than I can. But can anybody give me a reason why anyone should have this type of gun? What good are they unless you want to have a mass killing. You might say don't judge gun owners by a mental persons mistake. Well, who knows when your neighbor or friend or someone at work might have a breakdown and do the same thing. What is scary to me is that there are so many Americans fighting to keep these guns. What in the world are you planning?

Basically, It's a way to equal the people's odds against more illegal activities. Take public shootings for example; notice how for the most part they are against a largely unarmed group of people. It's a psychological thing, criminals are, by nature, cowards and would rather take on a 'soft' target like a school which has NOBODY on campus armed except for maybe 1 or 2 police officers, as opposed to a 'hard' targets like, say a Wal-Mart, where anyone, anywhere could be armed with a variety of weapons. The large magazine has 3 purposes 1.) For the recreational shooter who likes to put a lot of lead on target quickly. And 2.) For smaller calibers, like the 9mm, it's necessary because of lack of stopping power when acting in defense. And 3.) When there could be multiple attackers. Sure martial arts are good for one or two attackers, but what about 3 or 4? In that case you would be overwhelmed unless you were armed adequately.

Nola, have you known anybody that was killed by a firearm where it would have mattered how many bullets the murderers firearm held? In a home invasion, how many rounds does a burglar need to scare you and your unarmed family? How many does a carjacker need to get you out of your own car? How many does a rapist need to scare his victim to tears? How many shots? Think about that for a minute and maybe you can start to see that the answer is ZERO. A criminal can and will control the unarmed citizens without having to fire a shot, because you will have no course of retaliation. Now, run those same scenarios and lets add in that you have a rifle or pistol and have been trained to handle it. How many shots do you need to ward off multiple burglars, rapists, and murders? How well will you be able to aim i n the heat of the moment? Will you hit your target the first shot? Will they run away after you miss, or will they keep advancing? Will they be drugged up and continue advancing even after you have shot them? Lets look at those questions and think about how you would like to be limited in your capacity to defend yourself in a life or death situation.

And I didn't even touch on your lack of understanding of firearms and their operation. Or on your belief that our government somehow relates to a Mother/Father figure, because that is both sad and scary to hear from a american citizen!

I am planning to protect myself from any large crowd that would attempt to attack me and rob me of my liberty or life. I have magazines that carry 80 rounds at once. And i have many large capacity magazines that carry 30 , 40 or more. I like repeating arms especially if i need them. I may never need them but i would rather have one and not need it than need on and not have it.

What if my government decided to enslave me??? America is the only free country on the planet, all other societies are dictatorships or social theocracies. We are the only free republic and those in power have been trying to take our freedoms for a very long time and they are very close to enslaving us again. the only thing that stops them is my gun. The smaller or fewer guns i have the easier it will be to enslave me. My govt has big guns i need big guns to protect me from them. If you believe you are not enslaved,,, fail to pay your taxes. Drive without registration on you car. go to the grocery store and refuse to pay the taxes on your bill!! You are a slave!!

That's not exactly "keeping calm", Dave. I think a well-reasoned argument is more effective than calling names and telling someone they should be "banned from the internet"...especially if you're going to tout freedom.
Nora, you sort of struck upon it when you asked if we want it because we're told we can't have it. We're told we can't have certain weapons by a government that understands all too well that it's easier to control a disarmed population. Restrict a citizen's ability to defend him or her self, bit by bit, and eventually you can transform them from citizen into subject.
As for the criminal element, if you've ever seen the sort of riots and looting that have occurred in places like L.A. (during the '92 riots) and New Orleans (after Hurricane Katrina), you'll see the value of not having to reload as often. Taking time to reload offers attackers a break in which to push forward without taking casualties.

I stand corrected in many areas of my reply, Marissa, yes I do know people that have been shot by one bullet, and what I was talking about the mother father figure was a child seeing their parent break a law intentionally, and you're right Dave, I do not have a clear knowledge of guns but you're nastiness is uncalled for. Maybe I did grow up under a rock and don't understand nor condone violence but I can see in situations like everyone has mentioned, a gun would be needed for protection. All the others that replied to mine, thank you for helping me understand things I have been afraid to acknowledge.

Plenty of people hunt with semi-automatic rifles. You can put a five or ten round magazine into it if that's what the hunting regulations stipulate. I don't understand where this "you can't hunt with it!" statement originated from.

Well Nola I don't mind if you have your two cents it's just that I would like to be able to vote on whether or not those two cents matter to me. A right That I IN PUEBLO Colorado have been Denied be Colorado LAW MAKER ANGELA GIRON. Who has enacted TREASON Against the FIRST Amendment. I am P.T. and I am a Colorado Anonymous. So I joined anon after seeing all the things going wrong and they were real eye openers from the federal reserve (http://youtu.be/mII9NZ8MMVM) to Monsanto poisoning and well is it surprising that Barrack Hussien Obama a muslim elected during a time when we were at war with a muslim nation does not have the U.S. citizens best interests at heart. But the Obama thing can be forgiven if it weren't for the congresses in ability to act in the best interests of the U.S. people. But have plenty of action in self interest. That's right your senators don't care about you just themselves period They backed Obama in gun control know Y Texas were one of their own an Arizona Senator was shot and nearly died they realized the worse things get the more likely their going to catch some of the heat, they realized that we wouldn't turn on each other first but them. So what now congress needs to ensure their safe and on top so what do they agree to ...gun control. Oh yes they try to doctor it up by saying it's just magazines and background checks but it's just a test how much can they get away with how many rights can they take away until no one can challenge them in words or the might of weapons. The patriot act, Drone act, and the crescendo the gun last line of defense against greed and tyranny. Start off small make it sound harmless and the threat of not agreeing horrendous. But people who realized in public and Military offices realized inanely and fought back. The republicans/ politicians realized this was an opportunity and sided with the NRA, "self interest" "stay elected" "stay rich and in power". But the Democrats who still support Obama and the senator who was shot still try to oppose the idea that we won't give up our guns and will go to any length to take your freedom and guns even your Right to "VOTE". You can see this going on right now in Colorado By state sen. John Morse of Colorado Springs and sen. Angela Giron of Pueblo. Freedom and rights groups called for their recall and petitioned in both cities but now the petitions are being challenged legally even though they have more then enough signers for the recall. Morse decided to say that the petitions wording is "UNCONSTITUTIONAL" and hired a lawyer Mark Grueskin to remove the petitions against him but Giron decided to put campaign funds into a service to challenge those who signed it in Pueblo to remove their signature. However, should it fail she will do the same thing Morse is. TAKING AWAY THE RIGHT TO A VOTE. An act of treason against the second and first Amendment. The first amendment and I quote is "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to assemble, and to "PETITION” the Government for a redress of GRIEVANCES".
Do You Think This Method of Petition removals is Constitutional? Do you believe your Government is up to something? Will U sit and do nothing? If U read this article to it's entirety and feel that it is factual and not lacking Sense. Then U have helped me affirm that this is Common Sense. Do not sit. STAND and say GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH. http://youtu.be/XGLwJGv1fAQ

Meanwhile the Drones fly over snapping photos of these patriots. IRS is checking their tax records, and the phone conversations are being recorded for evidence so they can all be labeled terrorists and sent to gitmo for illegal indefinite incarceration. I don't thin we can stand any more hope and change... Down with Big Brother!

AMEN BROTHER. I am P.T. and I am a Colorado Anonymous.So I joined anon after seeing all the things going wrong and they were real eye openers from the federal reserve (http://youtu.be/mII9NZ8MMVM) to Monsanto poisoning and well is it surprising that Barrack Hussien Obama a muslim elected during a time when we were at war with a muslim nation does not have the U.S. citizens best interests at heart. But the Obama thing can be forgiven if it weren't for the congresses in ability to act in the best interests of the U.S. people. But have plenty of action in self interest. That's right your senators don't care about you just themselves period They backed Obama in gun control know Y Texas were one of their own an Arizona Senator was shot and nearly died they realized the worse things get the more likely their going to catch some of the heat, they realized that we wouldn't turn on each other first but them. So what now congress needs to ensure their safe and on top so what do they agree to ...gun control. Oh yes they try to doctor it up by saying it's just magazines and background checks but it's just a test how much can they get away with how many rights can they take away until no one can challenge them in words or the might of weapons. The patriot act, Drone act, and the crescendo the gun last line of defense against greed and tyranny. Start off small make it sound harmless and the threat of not agreeing horrendous. But people who realized in public and Military offices realized inanely and fought back. The republicans/ politicians realized this was an opportunity and sided with the NRA, "self interest" "stay elected" "stay rich and in power". But the Democrats who still support Obama and the senator who was shot still try to oppose the idea that we won't give up our guns and will go to any length to take your freedom and guns even your Right to "VOTE". You can see this going on right now in Colorado By state sen. John Morse of Colorado Springs and sen. Angela Giron of Pueblo. Freedom and rights groups called for their recall and petitioned in both cities but now the petitions are being challenged legally even though they have more then enough signers for the recall. Morse decided to say that the petitions wording is "UNCONSTITUTIONAL" and hired a lawyer Mark Grueskin to remove the petitions against him but Giron decided to put campaign funds into a service to challenge those who signed it in Pueblo to remove their signature. However, should it fail she will do the same thing Morse is. TAKING AWAY THE RIGHT TO A VOTE. An act of treason against the second and first Amendment. The first amendment and I quote is "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to assemble, and to "PETITION” the Government for a redress of GRIEVANCES".
Do You Think This Method of Petition removals is Constitutional? Do you believe your Government is up to something? Will U sit and do nothing? If U read this article to it's entirety and feel that it is factual and not lacking Sense. Then U have helped me affirm that this is Common Sense. Do not sit. STAND and say GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH. http://youtu.be/XGLwJGv1fAQ